Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-05-25
BRAVE BEGAN SAMRU.
Strange Career OF an Amazon of
Arab Extraction
History OF One OF the Most Distinguished
Women OF Modern Times-How She
Maintained Her Power Over the
Principally OF SardhSnS.
National Review.l

In modern times there have been many
distinguished ladies, the best known be-
ing, perhaps, Johanna Nobilis, commonly
sailed Began Samru, of Sombre. She w as
u Arab extraction, and succeeded to the
little principality of Sardhana on the
death of Walter Reinhardt. in May, 177S
Reinhardt left a son, but the slave girl
was able and astute, and having obtained
recognition from Delhi, she assumed CON-
mand of the brigade and administered tho
affairs of the ief Three years later she
availed herself of the occasion of the bap-
tism Of Aloysius, her stepson. to be herself
baptized. The first scene in which she
appeared conspicuouslv as public char
acter was in the spring of liz, when she
accompanied the Emperor, Sham Alan, in
an expedition into Rajputana, taking with
her contingent of troops under the
well-known Irish adventurcr, George
Thomas. On the 5th of April the Sard-
hama force was the means of saving the
Emperor from a very critical position be-
fore the walls of Gakagaph, fort in the
Reward country. This place was occupied
by a contUmacious chief, whom it was
considered requisite to cocrce, but who
made q vigorous sortie against the i'm
perialists on the morning in question.
The beseigers were thrown into utter con-
fusion, the attack upon them being COM
plete surprise. The rebels had penetra ted
to the very tents OF the sovereign when
the Began and Thomas appeared at the
head of three batallions and a field
p Iece, manned by European gunners
Dcploying, with the gun in his center,
Thomas opened fire with grape and
musketry, and with such immedi
ate effect that the attack was arrested
and time afforded for the Mughal cavalry
10 form and charge. The result was the
repulsc OF the garrison and the capture Of
the fort In the durbar that ensued the
Emperor embraced the Began as his
daughter, aud bestowed on her a patent,
with the title OF Zebunnissa (the Glory OF
the Sex). Colonel Skinner related that he
had often seen her leading her troops
through the tumult and carnage of battle.
At this time she W as-according &c
Thomas-a plump and lively brunctt2,
fair for a native, and with large and
sparkling eyes She spoke Persian as
well as HIndustani, and conducted her
business with assiduity, receiving her re-
'orts and issuing her orders behind
curtain, as long as her native
employees were present. In social
intercourse with Christians, however, she
assumed her place at table, only taking
care to be served by maid servants, and
have all male native attendants excluded
from the room. Four years later Thomas
had left tn service and gone to shift for
himself The Began, who by this time was
over thirty five years of age, had intrusted
her force to n new commander, French
man named Levassoult, whom she after
ward married. Unfortunately for the
husband the wedding was private, only
witnessed by two of his countrymen, MN.
Bernier and Saleur. Scandal arose, OF
which the stepson, Aloysius, took advan-
tage, and mutiuy arose in his interest
before which the Began and Colonel
Levassoult were obliged TO fly
They left Sardhana on an October morn
ing, in l795, intending to seek refuge with
the British brigade under General Nc.
Gowan, then quartered at Anupshahr, on
the Gangcs. The lady was in her palan
quin, the husband, armed, rode by her or
horseback; and they had with them theil
portable property, cash and jewels, to the
value Of some 100000 This being known
determined the course of events. Some OF
the soldiers started to pursue and plumber
the fugitives. They were soon overtakcn
the Began was woundcd-or as some sup
pose, wounded hersclf-and tho unhappy
LevaSSoult, believing that she was slain
put pistol to his temple and shot himself
dead. The Began, who had escaped with
a flesh wound, was taken back 10 Sard
hama, and keptfhree days bound under
gun carriage, where she was kept alive
by the care of faithful female servant
A reign of terror ensucd, but it wa:
swiftly suppressed by Thomas, who came
CALAMITY TO the aid of his old mistress
The restoration was complete and final mol
did Began ever again yield to the weak
ness of "Grand Duchess" Colonel Saleul
was placed at the head of the brigade
which he kept in good fighting order snti
il was rudely abolished by Wellesley anC
Lake On the fall OF Delhi in 1873, the
Began at once submitted, and repaired t,
the camp OF the victor. As her palauQuiI
was deposited at the door of Lakes tent
the General (who was at dinncr) FASTENED
out to receive the distinguished visitor. II
flush of hospitality and post-prandia
excitement Lake caught her in his
arms as she got out aud gavo hel
a hearty kiss. But the astute lady was
equal to the occasion. ''Scc, my chill
dren," said she, turning to her astonisheC
attendants, "see how father receives hi,
rcpentant daughter" She was confirmed
in her possessions on both sides Of tn,
Jumma, and for the next thirty-threC
years maintained a mediatized rule in he
capital. Here she kept up great st ate
Every night there was a dinner party, a
which, besides her brigadIer, her chaplain
and her land steward, she entertained tn
officers Of the neighboring garrison q
Meerut. A military band played durinI
the banquet, and the best wines of Franc
and the peninsula circulated in the un
etintad fashion nf fhOza HaUa